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Flip

Original poster

HELP! Has my baby swallowed a battery?

25 replies

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 10:19

On the phone, baby playing with remote control. At the end of the call turn around to find baby with battery in his mouth, sucking frantically - no sign of other battery!!! AAA size, he's one this week. Could he really have swallowed it?
Can only think of asking for an x ray, but really can't face it....

He didn't have the whole battery in his mouth btw... Still seems huge for him to swallow...

OP posts:

bunny2 · 04/05/2004 10:20

blimey, I'd ring NHD direct or your doctors. I am sure he hasnt swallowed a battery but, if he did, the acid could be corrosive.

bunny2 · 04/05/2004 10:20

NHS Direct

popsycal · 04/05/2004 10:21

I would ring docs or A and E to check

how old is baby?

Original poster

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 10:22

will be 1 on Sunday

OP posts:

moodyzebra · 04/05/2004 10:24

They'll tell you take him to A+E, LM, if only to Xray and make sure it's not stuck somewhere. Good luck... probably it will reappear in his nappy in the next day or two.

Many of my friends' kids have been hauled off for swallowing a penny at about this age, they were all ok!

Original poster

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 10:27

Am on hold with NHS direct. Can't bear A&E, but have sinking feeling that you're right......

And I had soooo much to do today!

OP posts:

Northerner · 04/05/2004 10:34

Ladymuck the exact same thing happenned to my ds at a similar age. I was frantic with worry but kept thinking, no, he can't possibly have swallowed it, I'd have noticed or he'd have gagged. Anyway when I changed his nappy I found it. He'd dropped it down his t shirt and it was caught between his vest and t shirt. God was I relieved. Do a good strip search and you might find it. Hope it turns out OK. BTW I rang NHS direct also. Boy did I feel like a crap mother 'Yes, my son may have swallowed a battery' LOL!

Original poster

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 10:34

still on hold!

OP posts:

bunny2 · 04/05/2004 10:41

NHS Direct will prob send you off to A&E anyway, they have when I have called about ds. I'd do a strip search as Northerner suggests, then go to A&E I think.

Flip · 04/05/2004 10:46

Don't bother with NHS direct, in this instance they will say A&E. You're just wasting time sitting on hold. I swallowed a pen top when I was younger and school took me to A&E. Very embarassing. I think I was about seven.

lou33 · 04/05/2004 10:55

A & E.

Janh · 04/05/2004 10:58

Like Northerner I don't see how he could have swallowed something that size without gagging or choking - it must be stuck somewhere you can't see - but if you can't find it then you'll have to go to A & E just to be sure - good luck!

hercules · 04/05/2004 11:04

Go to a & E. What else can nhsdirect say?

Original poster

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 13:02

Back from a relatively speedy trip to Xray - no sign of it! Was asked whether I had a social worker though...

OP posts:

Batters · 04/05/2004 13:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

popsycal · 04/05/2004 13:12

they always ask if you have a social worker - standard question

glad the battery hasnt beem swallowed!

WSM · 04/05/2004 13:15

Better to be safe than sorry LadyM, glad everything is ok now. you'll laugh about it in years to come, honest !!

Original poster

LadyMuck · 04/05/2004 13:28

The worst thing is that I still can't find it, and don't feel comfortable leaving him on the floor until I find it. I see a tidy up looming

But better that than somewhere inside him. I wonder what they would have done. Still can't see him actually swallowing it, but better to be safe I guess (that will be my defence with any social worker!)

OP posts:

throckenholt · 04/05/2004 19:17

Mine 14 month old swallowed a 5p recently - NHS Direct said definitely take them to A&E (preferably within 4 hours) to make sure it hadn't got stuck anywhere.

It reappeared in the nappy next morning - very tarnished ! At A&E they said it could take up to a month to come out (not with my kids )

lou33 · 04/05/2004 20:48

My nephew swallowed a £2 coin, and had to have a GA to get it back, as it was lodged somewhere along the way.

hercules · 04/05/2004 20:52

Could you not have lent your sis the £2 lou?

hercules · 04/05/2004 20:52

lou33 · 04/05/2004 21:08

I am pleased to say this happened while someone else was babysitting him.

I got a nice description of my sister in posh ball gown, standing in the toilets of A&E, while stirring the vomit he had brought up in the sink, with her fingers hoping to find the coin ,though!

JJ · 04/05/2004 21:13

LadyM, did you take him in? Swallowing a battery is different than swallowing something non-reactive of a similar size. You really need to take him to A and E if you haven't found it yet.

JJ · 04/05/2004 21:17

oh shoot, just read down and saw that you did! Sorry. But if anyone does think a child has swallowed a battery, it is an emergency.

Glad it's turned out ok. Can't believe a social worker would turn up just for a trip to the ER! What a waste of resources.

Flip